Mansfield wins America in Bloom award

America in Bloom judges Laurie Wheeler and Teresa Woodard toured Mansfield Thursday and will do so again Friday, including museums and historic sites, The Ohio State Mansfield and more.
Lou Whitmire/News Journal

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Pam Siegenthaler, Kim Hildreth, Teresa Woodard and Jim Kulig tour the Park Avenue West area on Thursday to view the downtown Mansfield area during the America in Bloom judging.(Photo: Jason J. Molyet/News Journal)Buy Photo

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Mansfield won its category in the 2018 America in Bloom National Awards Program at the program's annual symposium and awards celebration in Lexington, Kentucky, on Saturday.

Mansfield was the winner of the 25,000 to 75,000 population category, according to an America in Bloom press release.

Mansfield also won the Coolest Place for Kids special award, one of 10 surprise awards announced during the symposium.

“We did real well," Mansfield in Bloom chair Doug Versaw said Monday.

The city received an 8-star rating out of a possible 10 stars and received special recognition for its flowers, according to the press release.

Judges Teresa Woodard and Laurie Waller spent two days in Mansfield this summer touring the community and meeting city officials, residents and volunteers.

Participants were evaluated on seven criteria: overall impression, community vitality, environmental efforts, heritage celebration, urban forestry, landscaped areas and flowers. They were also judged on their community involvement across municipal, residential and commercial sectors, according to the press release.

Other communities in the 25,000 to 75,000 population category included Athens,Ohio; Decatur, Illinois; and West Chicago, Illinois.

Each participant received a detailed written evaluation that can be used as a guide for future improvements, according to the press release.

Mansfield's evaluation was 29 pages long. Its ratings included a 91.67 percent for its flowers, 80.56 percent for its landscaped areas, 75 percent for its urban forestry, 55.88 percent for its environmental efforts, 77.27 percent for its celebrating heritage, 78.57 percent for its community vitality and 55.68 percent for its overall impression.

"The community has risen above challenges of economic hardship and rallied residents to support beautification and historic preservation efforts," the judges wrote in the evaluation. "In your renaissance, you have begun the arduous process of expanding your community from being a center of manufacturing to a destination for visitors and locals alike."

This was Mansfield's second year in the America in Bloom program. Last year, it earned three out of five "blooms," a rating system that was change to stars this year.

More than 250 communities from 45 states have participated in the program, according to the press release.

“America in Bloom is helping towns and cities of all sizes achieve their potential," America in Bloom executive director Laura Kunkle said in the press release. "Every year, our participants raise the bar, and the accomplishments and progress shown by this year's group is again remarkable. These are, without a doubt, some of the best places to live in America.”